Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a drugless, holistic health care system which believes in the innate healing power. When given an opportunity, the body has the power to heal itself with the aid of natural treatments. Naturopathy emphasizes prevention, treatment and bringing optimal health through the use of therapeutic modalities which encourage the self-healing process. The centuries-old knowledge of natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in health and disease prevention make the system both traditional and scientific.
The modern, fast paced, haphazard lifestyle of today has adversely affected the health and happiness of people. Yoga is one of the major options that has been recommended in order to reduce the adverse impact of the aforementioned lifestyles. Until a few decades ago yoga was known only for its spiritual aims and people believed it to involve the use of magic. In recent times, application of yogic practices as a therapeutic tool has become widespread. Several studies worldwide have conclusively proven the effect of yoga in the promotion of health and prevention of disease.
Most of the ills of our scientifically advanced but ethically primitive society are due to a loss of balance and lack of moderation. Yoga and naturopathy blends together perfectly in aligning the body and tuning the mind, thus bringing back the lost balance and moderation creating a new way of life.
DIET AND NUTRITION THERAPY
According to Naturopathy food is our medicine. Nature cure believes in supplementing naturally available nutrients which will ensure a complete and adequate supply of nutrients needed for health and longevity.
FASTING AND DETOXIFICATION
Therapeutic fasting is defined as the complete abstinence from all substances except pure water in an environment of complete rest. For thousands of years, philosophers, scientists and physicians have used fasting as a healing process to reverse illness and disease. The age-old therapy of fasting has extremely profound healing effects on the body and encourages the body’s powerful innate ability to heal itself.
Today’s poor eating habits including high-fat, high-sugar foods are causing numerous chronic health problems. Often, the best means of facilitating the restoration of health is therapeutic fasting. It allows the body to create a unique physiological healing response that is unparalleled.
Fasting Therapy, done under medical supervision, helps in restoring health and is a key contributor to weight loss, besides being a vital component for Detoxification of the body. Moreover, fasting has anti inflammatory effects, and enhances the immune functions of the body.
Scientific research has documented the beneficial results that Fasting has on various conditions. The most common conditions that therapeutic fasting can improve include:Obesity
Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis (Irritable Bowel Disease)
Rheumatoid Joint Pain
Other Autoimmune conditions (Lupus, etc.)
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Digestive disturbances
Diabetes
HYDROTHERAPY
This is a mode of treatment that uses water in all forms (ice, water and steam) for its application. The water is employed at different temperatures (cold, h ot, neutral) to get different therapeutic benefits.
1. Hip bath
It is given in a specially designed hip bath tub in which water is filled enough to cover the hips reaching upto the navel of the patient.Benefits:
It improves blood circulation to the abdomen and pelvis.
It helps in increasing the peristaltic movements and thus relieving constipation.
It aids in improving the functions of the eliminative organs.
Diseases indicated:
Digestive disorders, Diabetes, Constipation, Piles, Urinary incontinence, Menstrual disorders etc.
2. Spinal Bath
The patient is made to lie down with the entire back and spinal column immersed in water in the spinal bath tub.Benefits:
It is a very good relaxative treatment.
It relieves muscular tension and tones the nerves.
It stimulates spinal nerves.
Helps in reducing blood pressure.
Diseases indicated:
Hypertension, Back pain, Sciatica, Insomnia, Asthma etc.
3. Arm and Foot bath
The patient is made to sit comfortably on a stool. The arms up to the elbows and the legs up to the calf muscles are immersed in water in a specially designed tub. This may be given separately for arm or foot.Benefits:
Relieves cerebral and chest congestion
Improves circulation to the extremities.
Relieves pain in the hands and legs
Diseases indicated:
Asthma, Head ache, cold, cough, Insomnia, Menstrual disorders
4. Steam bath
The patient after drinking two to three glasses of water enters the steam cabin and is made to sweat profusely due to the emanating steam. This is immediately followed by a cold shower.Benefits:
It is one of the main detoxifying treatment
Relieves pain
Aids in weight reduction
Provides muscle relaxation and relieves spasm
Improves blood circulation throughout the body
Maintains the health of the skin
Diseases indicated:
Obesity, Arthritis (Osteo, Rheumatoid and Gouty), Back pain
5. Facial Sauna
This includes the exposure of the facial area to steam. Herbs can also be added to it.Benefits:
One of the beatifying treatment
Opens the skin pores and eliminates the toxins and clogged particles
Relieves nasal and cerebral congestion
Has good mucolytic and expectorant effects
Diseases indicated:
Sinusitis, Cold, cough, Migraine and other head aches, Acne vulgaris etc.
6. Packs
These are local application given to particular body part by means of two pieces of cotton cloth and a piece of woollen cloth. The first piece of cotton cloth is made wet and is wrapped on the body part (chest, throat, abdomen, knee etc) which is then covered by a dry cloth followed by the woollen cloth.Benefits:
It has a very good smoothening effect
Aids in blood circulation due to vasodilatation
Relieves congestion
Has a good mucolytic and expectorant effect when applied on chest
Diseases indicated:
Local inflammation, pain, edema
Diseases particular to the local body parts.
MUD THERAPY
A very simple, cost effective and efficacious treatment modality of Naturopathy. Since earth is one of the five elements of nature, mud has an immense impact on the human body. When mud is applied on our body for the purpose of treatment, it fulfills the requirement of earth element in our body.
Mud has got many medicinal values as it contain minerals like zinc, selenium, sulfur, etc. Hence it can be used for treatment of various skin diseases. Moreover, mud stimulates the sweat glands thereby helping in elimination of toxins. Also, mud therapy is one of the best way to erase the effect of ageing from the skin. For the purpose of therapy, mud can be applied in two ways – (i) Local Application, and (ii) General Application.
In local application, mud is applied to the particular part of the body to get desired effect. It can be applied in the form of packs or direct application to the part can be made, for example, daily application of mud to the abdomen regulates the function of abdominal organs, thereby improving digestion.
In general application, mud is applied all over the body to get generalized effect. Since mud also has cooling property, it can be applied in case of skin irritation, burning sensation of palms and feet.
YOGA THERAPY
Yoga is an integral part of nature cure. Most of the diseases have psychosomatic origin and yoga has been proven effective in treating these psychosomatic ailments.Yoga not only helps in preventing but also in curing diseases. Yoga therapy includes asanas, pranayama, meditation, kriya and relaxation techniques
SUNBATH OR HELIOTHERAPY
It is the treatment of disease by exposing the body to sunlight. It is a therapeutical method to maintain a healthy body by receiving the effects of the rays of the sun. It includes, bana bena leaf bath: in this treatment the patient’s body is completely wrapped with banana leaf. It is best before 12 o clock in the morning. It avoids the extreme light frequency by using green which has the medium range by covering the body with banana leaves. It will screen out the harmful spectrum and let only the green ray. It increases blood circulation and balances the body immune by gentle heat. Indication:- Chronic fatigue and allergy, auto immune disease, psoriasis, heart disease, hypertension, diabetics and even cancer.